HIGHLIGHTS
- In today’s NYT Connections, the meaning of “Pep” is brisk energy, initiative, or high spirits, and it is placed in the Blue category.
- “Sans” is used as a preposition meaning without or lacking and is placed in the group named “Without.”
- “Letter Sign-off”, “Without”, “Vigor” and “____ Strip” are the four categories in today’s NYT Connections.
The New York Times features a diverse range of puzzle games, including Connections, Wordle, and Strands.
Yesterday’s puzzle featured words such as Drape and Quotient, which made them difficult to categorize.
Today’s 699th edition of NYT Connections may challenge you with words like Pep and Sans.
Solutions For Today’s NYT Connections (May 10)
The NYT Connections comprises four categories, each containing four words interconnected by a shared theme.

The game labels the groups by color, including Yellow, Green, Blue, and Purple, with each color representing a higher level of difficulty.
Like any puzzle, you start by examining each word, and it won’t be long before you identify the first group.
For instance, Best, Cheers, Love, and Sincerely are all terms that are used to sign off or close a message, typically at the end of emails, or letters.

This will make up the first group, the yellow group in today’s word puzzle titled “Letter Sign-off.”
Meaning Of “Sans” In NYT Connections
You will come across a group of synonymous words, all of which convey the idea of being not present.
These words include Absent, Minus, Sans, and Wanting, forming the green group called “Without.”

In this context, “Sans” is used as a preposition meaning without or lacking, as defined by the Collins Dictionary.
Marking this will complete two categories in the puzzle, finishing half of it with 8 words remaining.
“Pep” Meaning In NYT Connections
Although “Pep” has various meaning, in today’s NYT Connections, it refers to effort, energy, and enthusiasm.
The word, along with Beans, Energy, and Zip, all share a common theme of strength, energy, or intensity.

This will form the blue group, named “Vigor,” which refers to physical strength, mental energy, or vitality.
The words describe various aspects or qualities of vigor, such as activity, energy, and power.
We can easily pair the remaining four words to reveal the final group in today’s NYT Connections.

The puzzle reveals the final category titled “____ Strip,” which includes Bacon, Comic, Landing, and Sunset.
The purple group includes various prefixes added to the word “strip,” where the combinations form new words with distinct meanings.
Here is the complete list of today’s NYT Connections words and themes, organized by their level of difficulty:
- Letter Sign-off (Yellow): Best, Cheers, Love, Sincerely
- Without (Green): Absent, Minus, Sans, Wanting
- Vigor (Blue): Pep, Beans, Energy, Zip
- ____ Strip (Purple): Bacon, Comic, Landing, Sunset

